What to know about Patricia Espinosa
Officer Patricia Espinosa holding two newborn Yorkie puppies she helped rehome. Credit: A New Beginning Animal Rescue/Wendy Caldwell
Patricia Espinosa immigrated to the United States from Ecuador when she was 21. She joined the Nassau County Police Department nine years ago.
Espinosa was on her way to work at the Fifth Precinct early Saturday when police said alleged drunken driver Matthew Smith ran a red light and struck her vehicle in St. James. Smith, 20, of Hauppauge, has been charged with DWI.
Espinosa was married to fellow Nassau cop Francisco Malaga, who came upon the crash scene as he headed to work that morning.
Nicole Fuller is Newsday's senior criminal justice reporter. She began working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.
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